Hindi English Translation || Editorial || ​A piece of board: On India and Donald Trump’s Board of Peace

​A piece of board: On India and Donald Trump’s Board of Peace

India must eschew temptation (लालच, प्रलोभन, आकर्षण) to be a part of Trump’s peace board

India on Thursday skipped the U.S. President Donald Trump-led “Board of Peace” charter announcement held in Davos (a town in the Swiss Alps. Every January, Davos hosts the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF)), although the government is said to be still discussing the invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join it. The Board of Peace is part of the Trump administration’s Phase 2 of the Gaza (a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip. Gaza Strip is a self-governing Palestinian territory surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, Israel and Egypt) Peace Proposal, which is meant to oversee security, humanitarian assistance, reconstruction in the Gaza strip, and pursue (engage, conduct, take part in (an activity)) a path to resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict (संघर्ष, टकराव) through talks (बातचीत, वार्ता) on a two-state solution (दो-राज्य समाधान). This was cleared unanimously (सर्वसम्मति से) by the UN Security Council (संयुक्त राष्ट्र सुरक्षा परिषद) (Russia and China abstained (मतदान से बचना, तटस्थ रहना) last month, after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire (संघर्ष विराम) and all living Israeli hostages (बंधक) were returned home. The proposal has been welcomed by many countries, not the least because it paused Israel’s relentless (निरंतर) bombing campaign (अभियान) and ground operations in which more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed including 20,000 children, in retaliation (जवाबी कार्रवाई, प्रतिशोध) for Hamas-led terror strikes (attack, assault, bombing) in October 2023. There are some reasons for India to seriously consider joining the BoP, as about 20 other countries already have. India has been a principled (सिद्धांतवादी, सिद्धांतनिष्ठ समर्थक) supporter of the Palestinian cause (matter), and a consistent provider of humanitarian assistance including through the UN agency UNRWA, and this could be an opportunity to help the brutalised (attacked, assaulted, beaten, thrashed; humiliated, dehumanized, degraded, subverted) Palestinian population directly and help rebuild their land. The decision by regional powers UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Turkiye to join may put pressure on the Modi government to follow suit (emulate, copy, follow, take (another’s actions as an example)). The rupture (quarrel, rift, break-up, feud, division, separation, split) in US-India ties (association, relationship, bond, connection) and fragility (vulnerability, riskiness, unreliability; the quality of being easily damaged, broken or harmed) of trade negotiations (discussion, discourse, debate, dialogue, deliberation, talk, parley) maybe another cause (reason, grounds, purpose, pretest, motive) not to rebuff (avoid, ignore, reject, spurn, refuse) Mr. Trump’s invitation at this stage as it may invoke (cause, bring forth, evoke, induce, create, bring out) his ire as French President Macron has.

Neither pragmatism (realism, practicability, common sense, matter-of-factness) nor principle dictates taking such a decision in haste (quickly, rapidly, in a rush, in a hurry; speedily), however, and a country of India’s standing (stance, stand, position, perspective, attitude, point of view, viewpoint) cannot act based on the fear of missing out on a position of influence (power, authority, domination, leverage, sway, weightage, clout, muscle), or fear of punishment by the US. To begin with (at first; at the outset; at the beginning), even though the United Nations has backed (support, endorse, approve, advocate, champion) the US’s original plans, the latest structure and mandate (instruction, directive, command, order) of the BoP appears to have been unilaterally (used to indicate something done by a person or country without approval or agreement from other people or countries involved in the situation) altered and does not actually mention Gaza, according to leaked versions of the charter. Mr. Trump has appointed himself as Chairman, with personal friends and family on the Executive board, and the charter released proposes to extend the BoP to other conflict-resolution ventures (activity, operation, campaign, deed), suggesting (indicate, denote, point to, signify) it would seek (try, aim, attempt) to supplant (replace, displace, supersede, take the place of, take over from; oust, overthrow, remove, dethrone) the UN itself. Secondly, while the board will appoint Palestinian technical experts, it does not include the Palestinian leadership in any way (by any means; in any manner; at all), an affront (an open insult or offensive act) to all countries including India who have recognised ((formally) acknowledge or accept (e.g., statehood)) Palestine. That Mr. Netanyahu, accused of genocide (mass murder, massacre, ethnic cleansing, mass slaughter) by UN agencies should be included, but not the Palestinian president, adds to that injustice (lack of justice, unfairness, misdeed, unjust/unfair act). For India, Pakistan’s decision to join the board is a red-flag (caveat, warning, caution), particularly if Mr. Trump decides to include the Kashmir dispute to peace plans the BoP will seek to resolve. The BoP’s 2-tier membership, offering “permanent” membership for a “fee” of one billion dollars is another red-flag. It will also be difficult, once on board (to join a team/group as a member (to be included or accepted into a group)), for India to cavil (complain, grumble/moan; find fault with (especially over trivial matters)) at its troops joining the International Stabilization Force (ISF) (it is a peacekeeping mission, comprising armed personnel from several countries, tasked with training a new Palestinian police force and working toward disarming Hamas. It was authorized by the United Nations Security Council in November 2025 as part of a comprehensive ceasefire plan for the Israel-Hamas War), which is a non-UN initiative. Without clarity in the decision-making process of the board, members will simply be rubber-stamps (an organisation, body, or person that gives automatic approval without checking or debate) to Mr. Trump’s arbitrary (based on personal choice or whim rather than reason or rule; capricious, personal (whim/choice), discretionary, random, illogical, unreasonable) and often illegitimate diktats (order, regulation, decree; authoritative command) on the future of the Palestinian people. Instead, New Delhi must continue to consult partners on the best way forward, particularly the Palestinians themselves, even as it keeps its own independent counsel. Above all, while making its decision, India must listen to its own conscience.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.temptation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - लालच, प्रलोभन, आकर्षण
English Meaning - appeal, lure, desire, urge.

2.humanitarian aid (noun)

Hindi Meaning - मानवीय सहायता
English Meaning - material and logistic assistance that’s used to relieve suffering during emergency situations.

3.conflict (noun)

Hindi Meaning - संघर्ष, टकराव
English Meaning - war, warfare, armed conflict, military action, armed clash.

4.talk (noun)

Hindi Meaning - बातचीत, वार्ता
English Meaning - discussion, discourse, debate, dialogue, deliberation, negotiation, parley.

5.two-state solution (noun)

Hindi Meaning - दो-राज्य समाधान
English Meaning - The two-state solution refers to a political deal in which Israel and a Palestinian state exist separately.

6.single-state solution (noun)

Hindi Meaning - एक-राष्ट्र समाधान
English Meaning - The single-state solution refers to a political deal in which Israel and a Palestinian state exist together.

7.unanimously (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - सर्वसम्मति से
English Meaning - without opposition, agreed to (by everyone involved).

8.UN Security Council (UNSC) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - संयुक्त राष्ट्र सुरक्षा परिषद
English Meaning - it is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, charged with ensuring international peace and security.

9.abstain (verb)

Hindi Meaning - मतदान से बचना, तटस्थ रहना
English Meaning - not vote, decline to vote, refuse to vote (for/against a resolution).

10.ceasefire (noun)

Hindi Meaning - संघर्ष विराम
English Meaning - a temporary stoppage of a war, truce, armistice.

11.hostage (noun)

Hindi Meaning - बंधक
English Meaning - a person captured or held as security for the fulfilment of certain conditions/terms.

12.relentless (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - निरंतर
English Meaning - persistent, continuing, constant, continuous, non-stop, unending.

13.campaign (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अभियान
English Meaning - military operation(s), attack, offensive.

14.retaliation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - जवाबी कार्रवाई, प्रतिशोध
English Meaning - revenge, vengeance, retribution, tit for tat, counter-attack.

15.principled (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - सिद्धांतवादी, सिद्धांतनिष्ठ समर्थक
English Meaning - right-minded, respectable, righteous, ethical.

16.truce (noun)

English Meaning - an ad-hoc (temporary/makeshift) arrangement, arrived at by the combatants (fighters), to pause the fighting.

17.eschew (verb)

English Meaning - avoid, ignore, reject, rebuff, refuse.

18.charter (noun)

English Meaning - code, body of law, system of rules.

19.held past tense/past participle of hold (verb)

English Meaning - conduct, organize, convene.

20.Davos (noun)

English Meaning - a town in the Swiss Alps. Every January, Davos hosts the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

21.Gaza (noun)

English Meaning - a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip. Gaza Strip is a self-governing Palestinian territory surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, Israel and Egypt.

22.pursue (verb)

English Meaning - engage, conduct, take part in (an activity).

23.cessation of hostilities (phrase)

English Meaning - it means that the combatants are willing to stop fighting and to restrain their forces.

24.strike (noun)

English Meaning - attack, assault, bombing.

25.cause (noun)

English Meaning - matter.

26.The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) (noun)

English Meaning - a United Nations agency established to provide relief, education, healthcare, and social services to Palestinian refugees in the Middle East.

27.brutalised (adjective)

English Meaning - attacked, assaulted, beaten, thrashed; humiliated, dehumanized, degraded, subverted.

28.follow suit (phrase)

English Meaning - emulate, copy, follow, take (another’s actions as an example).

29.rupture (noun)

English Meaning - quarrel, rift, break-up, feud, division, separation, split.

30.ties (noun)

English Meaning - association, relationship, bond, connection.

31.fragility (noun)

English Meaning - vulnerability, riskiness, unreliability; the quality of being easily damaged, broken or harmed.

32.negotiation (noun)

English Meaning - discussion, discourse, debate, dialogue, deliberation, talk, parley.

33.cause (noun)

English Meaning - reason, grounds, purpose, pretest, motive.

34.rebuff (verb)

English Meaning - avoid, ignore, reject, spurn, refuse.

35.invoke (verb)

English Meaning - cause, bring forth, evoke, induce, create, bring out

36.ire (noun)

English Meaning - anger, rage, fury, wrath.

37.pragmatism (noun)

English Meaning - realism, practicability, common sense, matter-of-factness.

38.in haste (phrase)

English Meaning - quickly, rapidly, in a rush, in a hurry; speedily.

39.standing (noun)

English Meaning - stance, stand, position, perspective, attitude, point of view, viewpoint.

40.influence (noun)

English Meaning - power, authority, domination, leverage, sway, weightage, clout, muscle.

41.to begin with (phrase)

English Meaning - at first; at the outset; at the beginning.

42.back (verb)

English Meaning - support, endorse, approve, advocate, champion.

43.mandate (noun)

English Meaning - instruction, directive, command, order.

44.unilaterally (adverb)

English Meaning - used to indicate something done by a person or country without approval or agreement from other people or countries involved in the situation.

45.venture (noun)

English Meaning - activity, operation, campaign, deed.

46.suggest (verb)

English Meaning - indicate, denote, point to, signify.

47.seek (verb)

English Meaning - try, aim, attempt.

48.supplant (verb)

English Meaning - replace, displace, supersede, take the place of, take over from; oust, overthrow, remove, dethrone.

49.in any way (phrase)

English Meaning - by any means; in any manner; at all.

50.affront (noun)

English Meaning - an open insult or offensive act.

51.recognise (verb)

English Meaning - (formally) acknowledge or accept (e.g., statehood).

52.genocide (noun)

English Meaning - mass murder, massacre, ethnic cleansing, mass slaughter.

53.add to (phrasal verb/phrase)

English Meaning - increase, intensify, heighten; aggravate, worsen, make worse or compound.

54.injustice (noun)

English Meaning - lack of justice, unfairness, misdeed, unjust/unfair act.

55.red-flag (noun)

English Meaning - caveat, warning, caution.

56.tier (noun)

English Meaning - a level, rank, or grade

57.on board (phrase)

English Meaning - to join a team/group as a member (to be included or accepted into a group).

58.cavil (verb)

English Meaning - complain, grumble/moan; find fault with (especially over trivial matters).

59.International Stabilization Force (ISF) (noun)

English Meaning - it is a peacekeeping mission, comprising armed personnel from several countries, tasked with training a new Palestinian police force and working toward disarming Hamas. It was authorized by the United Nations Security Council in November 2025 as part of a comprehensive ceasefire plan for the Israel-Hamas War.

60.rubber-stamp (noun)

English Meaning - an organisation, body, or person that gives automatic approval without checking or debate.

61.arbitrary (adjective)

English Meaning - based on personal choice or whim rather than reason or rule; capricious, personal (whim/choice), discretionary, random, illogical, unreasonable.

62.llegitimate (adjective)

English Meaning - illegal, unlawful, illicit, against the law.

63.diktat (noun)

English Meaning - order, regulation, decree; authoritative command.

64.the way forward (phrase)

English Meaning - something (a plan or action) that leads to success in the future (a method or approach that helps progress toward goals).

65.keep one’s own counsel (phrase)

English Meaning - to say nothing about one’s opinions or intentions; to remain silent about your thoughts or plans; not reveal what you think; to keep a secret for someone else.